National Museum worker granted bail after semtex seizure near Monaghan border

Simon O'Donovan (44), a deputy facilities officer at Collins Barracks Museum, was granted €40,000 bail by the High Court after being charged with possession of a semtex explosive device.

National Museum worker granted €40,000 bail over semtex device linked to New IRA

A deputy facilities officer at Collins Barracks Museum in Dublin has been granted €40,000 bail after being charged with possession of a military-grade explosive device described as capable of causing "catastrophic damage and serious loss of life", TheJournal.ie reports.

Simon O'Donovan (44), of Sperrin Road, Dublin 12, and a father of two, had previously been remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Mícheál P. O'Higgins granted his High Court bail application subject to strict conditions, despite garda objections.

O'Donovan is charged that on 22 July, at St Laurence's Road, Chapelizod, Dublin 10, he knowingly had in his possession an explosive improvised device — an offence contrary to section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act as amended by the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998.

CCTV evidence and the sequence of events

SDU Detective Sergeant Shane Noone told the court that O'Donovan was "captured on CCTV at 13.33 on 22 July, leaving his place of employment, Collins Barracks Museum, with a distinctive holdall bag in his possession." The detective sergeant maintained that the accused was then "tracked" on CCTV cycling to the War Memorial Gardens, where he met his co-accused, law student Isobella Perrie Sullivan, approximately 20 minutes later.

It was alleged that O'Donovan was observed at St Lawrence Road showing Ms Perrie Sullivan the contents of the bag, which she then took before driving by car to Aclint, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. She was stopped there by members of the Garda Special Detective Unit (SDU) following an SDU operation. The bag that had previously been in O'Donovan's possession was found in the back of the vehicle.

Gardaí recovered 394 grams of military-grade semtex, a timer, a timing switch and a viable detonator. It has been confirmed that semtex was present in the bag seized at Aclint.

Saoradh membership and New IRA links

The High Court heard that O'Donovan is a member of Saoradh, a dissident-aligned republican group. Detective Sergeant Noone described Saoradh as a far-left political group formed by dissident republicans in both the Republic and the North, established in 2016 and aligned with the New IRA.

On arrest, O'Donovan reportedly replied: "This is harassment because I am a member of Saoradh."

Detective Sergeant Noone, who agreed with Niamh O'Carroll BL for the State that he remained concerned the accused would commit further offences and interfere with witnesses, said he feared O'Donovan would "continue to engage in operational activities to further the aims of the New IRA" and undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

The detective sergeant told the court that the explosive device had been transported to and stored at the museum, which "posed a risk to members of the public and tourists, not to mention targets." He said O'Donovan showed "blatant disregard" and that "an unintended detonation would have caused catastrophic damage and serious loss of life or serious injury."

Defence submissions

David Perry BL, for O'Donovan, challenged the officer's emphasis on his client's political party membership as grounds for predicting witness intimidation, noting that O'Donovan had denied the offence after being brought to a garda station. Mr Perry highlighted that his client had worked at the National Museum for a decade, building good relationships with colleagues, and was the primary carer for elderly sick parents as well as being in a long-term relationship.

Detective Sergeant Noone replied that the political association remained relevant, and that there was no evidence O'Donovan had good friends working at the museum. The detective sergeant conceded he had no concerns regarding a flight risk, and it was accepted that the accused had no warrant history for failing to appear in court.

Bail conditions

Mr Justice O'Higgins held that bail could be granted subject to a series of strict conditions. O'Donovan must lodge €10,000 personally, and an independent surety must have €30,000 frozen in their account; that surety has yet to be confirmed and may be endorsed later at the District Court.

Among the conditions imposed: O'Donovan has surrendered his passport, must reside at his current address, observe a 10 pm to 7 am curfew, provide a mobile phone number on which he is contactable around the clock, and sign on daily at a local garda station. He is barred from having any direct or indirect contact with members or events of the Saoradh movement, must stay out of the Dublin 7 area and away from Collins Barracks National Museum, and may have no contact with witnesses or co-accused Isobella Perrie Sullivan.

O'Donovan, who appeared at the hearing via video link, had worked at the museum for ten years prior to his arrest. A file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, which could lead to additional charges, the court heard.

Source: TheJournal.ie